Our First Home - Full documentary (2025)

Our First Home explores the southern Cape coast of South Africa—one of the most scientifically significant landscapes in the world for understanding the origins of modern humans. Created in collaboration with Grootbos Private Nature Reserve and scientists from the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, the film reveals how this region’s unique ecology and long-term climate stability may have supported the emergence, survival, and innovation of our early ancestors.

Ultimately, Our First Home is a tribute to a landscape that shaped us. It reveals how the southern Cape’s fynbos-covered hills, ancient shorelines, and abundant palaeoscapes may have provided one of the earliest sustainable homes for Homo sapiens—a place where our species not only survived but began to thrive.

A special thanks to Dr Curtis W. Marean (Paleoanthropologist), Dr Hayley C. Cawthra (FGSSA, PR.SCI.NAT. Chief Scientist), Prof Richard Cowling (Botanist), Dr Jan C. De Vynck (Human Behavioural Ecology), Dr Robert Anderson (Marine Biologist), Dr Charles Helm (Paleontology and Ichnology) and Grootbos conservation manager Sean Privett (Botanist) for sharing this story with us.

Credits:

This film was made possible with the support of Cape Nature.

Produced by: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, African Centre for Coastal Paleoscience

Directed by: Wagtale Films

Cinematography: Timothy Gabb, Jonathan Cornelius, Lloyd Koppel

Editors: Jonathan Cornelius, Timothy Gabb

SoundDesign and Final Mix: Gustav Stutterheim

Animation: Jonathan Cornelius

Artworks: Maggie Newman, Tobbie Beele

News Articles: University of Washington, Joel Shwartz, Science Daily, University of Witwatersrand, University of California, Holly Ober, EarthSky Voices, The Conversation

Underwater Footage: Atlantic Edge Films

Academics: Richard Cowling, Curtis Marean, Hayley Cawthra, Sean Private, Robert Anderson, Jan De Vynck, Charles Helm